Court Filings

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Reginald Lawrence Perry Jr.'s appeal from the denial of his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 postconviction motion by the Duval County Circuit Court. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision issued April 16, 2026, affirmed the lower court's ruling without published opinion. The panel unanimously concurred, and the opinion is not final until any timely permitted motions under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure are resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower-court judgment in a case brought by appellant Luiz Silva against Frances Von Holten, Joseph Von Holten, Vinicius Lara, and Vizzion Construction, LLC. The appeal was decided by a three-judge panel and the court issued a brief per curiam affirmance citing Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.315(a). No appellee brief or appearance was filed. The decision is final subject to any timely motion authorized by the appellate rules for rehearing or clarification.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed a pro se appeal by Kyle Nelson Robinson from the Duval County circuit court's decision on a Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800 matter. The appellate court, in a per curiam opinion, affirmed the lower court's ruling. No opinion discussion or factual or legal reasoning is provided in the published entry; the court simply entered an affirmance with all three judges concurring and noted that the judgment is not final until any timely post-opinion motions are resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's ruling in a dispute between Jose and Nancy Quinones (appellants) and Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (appellee). The per curiam opinion, issued April 16, 2026, simply states 'AFFIRMED' without additional explanation in the published text. The appeal arose from the circuit court in Duval County, and the appellate panel—Chief Judge Jay and Judges Lambert and Maciver—concurred in the decision to affirm.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed a pro se appeal by John M. Johnson, Jr. from the denial of his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 postconviction motion in the Circuit Court for Duval County. The appellate court issued a per curiam decision on April 16, 2026, summarily rejecting the appeal and affirming the lower court's ruling. No extended opinion or substantive reasoning is included in the published disposition; the court simply affirmed the trial court's action and noted that the decision is not final until any timely motions under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331 are resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed the circuit court's decision in James Delosa's appeal under Florida Rule 3.800. Delosa, appearing pro se, appealed an order from the Brevard County Circuit Court (Judge Stephen George Henderson). The appellate court issued a short per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, simply stating AFFIRMED, with no published opinion or additional reasoning provided. The judgment is subject to any timely motions for rehearing authorized under Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Christopher Samuels's appeal from the denial of a Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 postconviction motion in Brevard County. The court, in a short per curiam decision, affirmed the lower court's ruling without published opinion or extended explanation. The panel issued a unanimous affirmance on April 16, 2026, and noted the decision is not final until any timely motion under Florida appellate rules is resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by A.M., the mother of S.L., from a Hernando County circuit court order in a child-protective proceeding brought by the Department of Children and Families. The appellate court issued a short per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, and affirmed the lower court's decision. No further reasoning or explanation is included in the opinion; the panel of three judges concurred.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Jessie Lee Shumaker from the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision issued April 16, 2026, affirmed the lower court's judgment without further opinion. The court noted the decision is not final until resolution of any timely post-judgment motions authorized by Florida appellate rules. No detailed reasoning or factual background is provided in the opinion.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Walter Jim Roberson Jr.'s appeal from a Bay County circuit court decision. The court issued a per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, and affirmed the lower court's ruling. No published opinion or extended reasoning appears in the document; the three-judge panel (Roberts, Ray, and Treadwell) concurred. The decision is subject to timely post-judgment motions under Florida appellate rules before it becomes final.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Vincent Johnson's appeal from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County and issued a per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's ruling without published opinion. All three judges concurred. The appellant represented himself; the State was represented by the Attorney General's office. The opinion notes the decision is not final until any timely post-judgment appellate motions are resolved.

The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's judgment in a criminal appeal brought by George Fountain III. The appeal arose from a decision entered in the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court issued a short per curiam opinion announcing its decision to affirm, with three judges concurring, and noted that the decision is not final until the time for certain post-judgment motions has passed. No further reasoning or factual discussion appears in the published entry.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Patrick Fleming's appeal from a Leon County circuit court decision. The appellate court, in a brief per curiam opinion, affirmed the lower court's judgment. No published opinion or extended reasoning appears in the record; the panel of three judges concurred and noted that the decision is not final until any timely authorized post-judgment motions are resolved. Fleming proceeded pro se on appeal, and the Attorney General represented the State.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Antoine Vonche Booker’s appeal from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court, in a per curiam opinion, affirmed the lower court’s judgment. No separate written opinion was issued; the opinion simply states AFFIRMED and notes concurrence by the three judges. The decision is subject to timely motions under Florida appellate rules but otherwise ends the appeal with affirmation of the trial court’s ruling.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Adam Kyle Atkins' appeal from a Santa Rosa County circuit court judgment and, in a unanimous per curiam decision, affirmed the lower court's ruling. The opinion is brief and states only the disposition without providing substantive reasoning in the published entry. The court noted the decision is not final until any timely authorized motion under Florida Appellate Rules 9.330 or 9.331 is resolved.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal reviewed Robert Kleckley's appeal of the circuit court's denial of his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853 motion (a postconviction claim challenging DNA testing). The appellate court, per curiam, affirmed the lower court's order denying the motion without further opinion. The decision leaves the circuit court's ruling in place and notes the appellate mandate is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's judgment in favor of appellee Moosa Syhead against appellant Nova Palms Holdings LLC. The appeal arose from a Broward County circuit court case (062022CA009666AXXXCE). The appellate panel issued a brief per curiam decision, stating simply 'Affirmed' without elaboration. Because the opinion offers no substantive explanation, the appellate court left intact the lower court's ruling and allowed any timely motion for rehearing to proceed under normal rules.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's order in a family-law matter between Maschelle Adrianne Pugh (appellant, pro se) and Eric Paul Pugh (appellee). The appeal from the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Martin County) was reviewed and the appellate panel issued a per curiam decision simply stating 'Affirmed.' No additional reasoning or changes to the lower court's judgment were provided in the published entry. The decision will become final after any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's judgment in a dispute between homeowner Mary Burliuk Holt and Lighthouse Bay Condominium Association, Inc. The appeal (No. 4D2025-0869) challenged a ruling from the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County. The appellate panel issued a per curiam opinion simply stating 'Affirmed' without published reasoning, and the three judges concurred. The decision is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a county court judgment in an appeal by Kevin Flynn and Stacey Dever against French Village Condominium Association, Bryan Taylor, and John Beech. The appellate court issued a brief per curiam decision, endorsing the lower court's ruling without published opinion and noting the judgment is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved. No additional factual findings or legal reasoning were included in the opinion provided.

The Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal reviewed a criminal appeal by Juan Camilo Hurtado Castano from a judgment entered in Martin County Circuit Court (case no. 432024CF001321CFAXMX). The court issued a brief per curiam decision affirming the lower court's judgment. No opinion or reasoning is provided in the published entry; the decision simply affirms the trial court's ruling. The mandate is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in the criminal case of Glenton Sylvester Hicks against the State of Florida. The opinion is per curiam, brief, and provides no extended reasoning in the published text. The panel unanimously affirmed the lower court's disposition and noted the decision is not final until any timely motion for rehearing is resolved.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by David Paul Vaughn from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision dated April 16, 2026, affirmed the lower court's ruling. No written opinion accompanied the disposition beyond the single-word judgment "AFFIRMED," and the three judges concurred. The decision is subject to any timely post-judgment motions under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed Michelle Vasquez's appeal from a Santa Rosa County circuit court decision. The three-judge panel issued a per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, concluding only that the lower court's ruling should be affirmed. No written opinion explaining the court's reasoning is included in the filing; the entry simply records affirmance and notes the decision is not final until any timely authorized motion under Florida appellate rules is resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's decision in a criminal appeal brought by Johnnie L. Smith. The opinion is per curiam, brief, and states only the disposition—affirmed—without explanatory reasoning. The appeal arose from a judgment or order entered in the Circuit Court for Escambia County, reviewed by a three-judge panel. No substantive discussion of issues or facts appears in the published entry; the court noted the right to file timely post-opinion motions under Florida appellate rules.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Johnnie L. Smith from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The court issued a short per curiam opinion on April 16, 2026, concluding simply: AFFIRMED. No additional reasoning or discussion appears in the published entry; the panel of judges Bilbrey, Kelsey, and M.K. Thomas concurred. The opinion notes the case is not final until any authorized timely motions under the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure are resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Division of Administrative Hearings in a dispute between Seventy7, LLC and the Florida Department of Revenue. The appeal challenged an administrative ruling, but the appellate court, in a per curiam decision with three judges concurring, concluded the lower administrative decision should stand. The opinion contains only the disposition 'AFFIRMED' without published reasoning in this document.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Joseph Zieler’s convictions and death sentences for the 1990 murders of R.C. (age 11) and L.S. The convictions rested largely on strong DNA evidence (multiple STR profiles and CODIS hit linking Zieler to the victims’ bedsheet, pillowcase, genital swab, and hairs), autopsy and crime-scene evidence of sexual battery and asphyxiation, and rebuttal of Zieler’s alternative explanations. The Court rejected claims of prosecutorial error under Caldwell, challenges to hair-evidence handling, a sentencing-order drafting issue, facial Eighth Amendment attacks on Florida’s death-penalty scheme, and a unanimity claim, finding no reversible error and sufficient evidence to support guilt and sentence.

The Florida Supreme Court granted the Florida Bar’s petition to amend several Rules Regulating The Florida Bar to replace terminology: “chemical dependency” becomes “substance use disorder” and “psychological problems” becomes “mental health conditions.” The Court also revised a bylaw to allow the Board of Governors to establish programs for enhanced participation by minority members and updated funding restrictions for Bar assistance programs. The amendments are adopted as proposed, will appear in the appendix, and take effect June 15, 2026. One justice dissented, expressing concern about adopting changes tied to external organizations and potential policy consequences.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed Charles Flaherty’s convictions and sentences after review of multiple claims. The court rejected Flaherty’s challenges to evidentiary rulings, denials of pretrial motions asserting self-defense immunity and speedy trial violations, and the claim that the trial court failed to conduct a Faretta hearing. The appellate court also upheld sentences for two counts of attempted second-degree murder, finding no reversible error, but noted the defendant may still raise an improper reclassification sentencing claim in a post-conviction proceeding.